For the past two years the couple has been living at the singer's Los Angeles home.

In a joint statement the couple called their ceremony as a "wedding". Although same-sex marriage is illegal in California, the two are, under the new law, registered domestic partners.

"We are so grateful for the blessings from our friends and family as we commence our vows, and begin the rest of our lives together," their statement said Monday.

The ceremony attracted Hollywood's A-list. Guests included Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Al and Tipper Gore, Jennifer Aniston (Brad was invited but is on location with Troy in Malta and couldn't make it), Helen Hunt, Mike Myers, Sally Field, Ellen DeGeneres, Sheryl Crow, Christina Applegate and Kathy Najimy.

Etheridge wore a "candlelight pantsuit of a linen jacket with beaded accent and crepe trousers," while Michaels was attired in a lace coat "crystal embellished scalloped trim over a white matte jersey gown."

The duo exchanged matching, custom-made platinum and diamond bands designed by jeweler to the stars Rafinity.

Before meeting Michaels, the two time Grammy winner shared her life for 12 years with Julie Cypher. They went on to have two children together, Bailey and Becket, each carried by Cypher with singer David Crosby contributing his sperm. Etheridge and Cypher split up in 2000 but continue to share custody of their children.

Michaels, 28, is best known for playing high-maintenance princess Nicole Julian on the defunct WB series Popular. She'll next be seen in a recurring role in Showtime's lesbian drama series The L Word.

Last month in Toronto, singer Janis Ian wed her longtime partner Patricia Snyder. Same-sex marriage has been legal in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia since the early summer.

Now the couple sit down for their first joint interview, Tammy’s first since coming out. An exclusive glimpse inside the Etheridge-Michaels household—and of Melissa’s rocking new album, Lucky; Tammy’s debut on The L Word; and the two mothers’ plans for another child

What does same-sex marriage look like? On some fall Sundays, in one big house with classic white siding in the rolling hills of western Los Angeles, it looks like this: Melissa Etheridge and friends are watching the Kansas City Chiefs play football on a big-screen TV in the family room. Etheridge’s partner of two years, Tammy Lynn Michaels, and their children—Bailey, 6, and Beckett, 5—are likely dividing their time between the family room, the cozy and chaotic playroom that the children govern, and, weather permitting, the inviting green lawn out front.

In a home not far away resides Julie Cypher, the children’s other mother, who shares custody: seven days here, seven days there. And dropping by for occasional visits is David Crosby, the children’s biological father, and his wife, Jan. “They’re definitely one wing of our family,” Michaels says. “We have, like, a family mansion, and they live in one wing. We’ve got all these little wings that make it nice.”

“I’d never been so clearly and purely in love before—ever in my life,” Etheridge says, sitting with Michaels on the living room couch for their first-ever joint interview. “Not until I was 40 did I find something so clear and clean. For my children, for my partner, I wanted to get married.” 

Tell me about the wedding.
Etheridge: There isn’t a word for it. Whenever someone asks me, I go, “It was really…” Great and wonderful doesn’t even begin to explain it. It was moving. It was more than I ever thought something like that would be. I never invested much into that—especially in my last relationship. It was something that— [pauses] 

That you thought other people did?
Etheridge: Yeah. I mean, growing up gay, knowing I was different—marriage was just, “Well, I won’t do that,” and you push it aside. It wasn’t until just a few years ago that our whole community started talking about gay marriage. 

Was there any discussion between the two of you that this would also have a larger meaning to a lot of people beyond those 200 guests?
Etheridge: [Slowly] We acknowledged it. In some ways we have no control over that. The best thing that I can do with this wedding—and the best thing that we can do—is just be true to each other, to walk on a path that we are proud of and just live a good life. 

And in the two months since then, has the marriage changed your relationship?
Both: Yes. 

Tell me how.
Michaels: Any choice I make is much heavier. Anything that comes up, whether it’s a job, an audition, a run to the grocery store—it is part of my life to make sure that Melissa has what she needs too. The devotion runs much deeper. For me anyway.